Jack for raising railroad-tracks



(No Model.) v

J. W. HARRISON.

JAGK FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS. No. 269,932. Patented Jan. 2, 1883 UNTTED STATES JONATHAN W. HARRISON,

OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN.

JACK FOR RAISING RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,932, dated January 2,1883.

Application filed May 17, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JONATHAN WV. HARRI- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of Washtenaw, in the State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jacks for liaising Railroad-Tracks,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those jacksin which are combined the principles of the wheel and axle and the lever; and it consists in a certain method of constructing such a jack in a mannerhereinafter more fully explained;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view, of my improved jack. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Upon two standards, 1 1,- preferably of gaspipe, are cast platforms or feet 2 2, and upon the tops ofthe standards are screwed or otherwise attached pieces 3 3, having horizontal hearings, in which are journaled the ends of shaft 4. A key, 5, passing through the shaft 4, fixes one standard, 1, in place, whilea ratchet-whecl, 6, keyed'tirmly to the shaft 4, holds the other standard, 1, in place.

Keyed or otherwise attached to the shaft 4,

between the standards 1 l, is a second ratchetwheel, 7, having its teeth pointingin the same direction as those ofratchet-Wheelfi on the end of the shaft. A lever, 8, has forked arms 9 9, one on each side of ratchet-wheel 7. The

shaft 4 passes through hearings in the ends of arms 9, by which means the lever 8 is pivoted on said shaft. Thelever 8 is enabled to rotate the shaft 4 by meansof pawl 10, pivoted on the said lever and arranged to engage with the teeth of ratchet-wheel 7. A pawl, 11, pivoted to an arm, 12, projecting from standard 1, engages with ratchet-wheel 6, and, as said ratchet-wheel is keyed firmly to shaft 4,-a backward rotation of said shaft is thus prevented. A chain, 13, fixed at one end to the shaft or Windlass 4, carries at its other end a grappling-hook,14,einpl0yed to grapple a rail, 15, which it is desired to raise. The grapple 14 is preferably connected to the chain by swivel-Joint, as shown.

l Handles 18 are provided on the standards 1 1 to aid in moving the apparatus.

In Fig.3 I have shown in section the springactuating mechanism for the pawl 10. The said pawl is made with flat surfaces 10" 10, meeting at an angle, as shown. Upon the surface 10 bears, in the normal position of the pa\vl,.the flat head of a stop-piece, 1-6, which rests on and is forcibly held against said pawl by a spring, 17, resting in a socket in the lever 8. This spring, by so holding the piece 16 against the flat surface 10, tends to hold the pawl 10 constantly against the ratchet-Wheel 7. When, however, it is desired to allow the grappling-hooks to fall, the pawls 10 and 11 are raised from the ratchet-wheelsfi and 'i, when the stop-piece 16 will engage on the flattened surface 10 and forcibly hold the pawl 10 away from the ratchet-wheel, allowing the said wheel and the shaft 4 to rotate.

I use the above-described apparatus forlift ing railroad-tracks as follows: The machine having been placed astride of the track and the grapple caught thereon, the lever 8 is raised, carrying with it the ratchets 10 and 11 and shaft 4, which thus winds on said shaft the chain 13. When the lever is elevated as far as desired for a single stroke itis lowered,

firmly from rotation, and the spring-pawl l0 slipping readily over ratchet 7 until the'lever is again arrested and lifted, when pawl 10 again engages with ratchet 7, and the former operation is repeated. WVheu the track has been thus raisedsufficiently the necessary of my apparatus enabling the whole work to be performed by one man, if necessary, instead of requiring four or live, as under the old method, in which three or four men are employed to hold the lifting-lever down while others do the puddling.

The following is h' erein claimed as new:

its pawl 11, the shaft 4, having ratchet-disks 6 and 7, and chain 13, in combination with the lever 8, provided with spring 17, stoppuddling or other work maybe done, the usev 1. In a track-raiser, the standards 1 1, provided with bearings 3 3, and bracket 12, with the pawl 11 and ratchet 6 holding the shaft 4 10", substantially as and for the purposes de- 3. The combination of pawl 10, having flattened surfaces 10 10 s op-piece 16, and spring 10 17, all arranged as shown, and fol the purpose indicated.

piece 16 and pawl 10, with its faces 10 and scribed.

2. The combination of pawllO, having flattened surface 10. stop-piece 16, bearing on said surface, and spring 17, to force said stoppiece outward, as and for the purpose set forth.

JONATHAN W. HARRISON. l Witnesses: THOMAS NINDE, l P. W. CARPENTER. 

